Step and trap construction for passenger cars



' April 21, 1931.

A. F. PAUL 1,801,973

STEP AND TRAP CONSTRUCTION FOR PASSENGER CARS Filed Nov, 8, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April. 21; 1931. PAUL 1,801,973

STEP AND TRAP CONSTRUCTION FOR PASSENGER CARS Filed NOV. 8, 1.929 T 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 21, 1931. A. F. PAUL 1,301,973

STEP AND TRAP CONSTRUCTION FOR PASSENGER CARS Filed Nov. 8, 1929 v 4 Sheets-Sheet s 57 29 4 3&36

M 7 @51 4 I-Mommy MW April 21, 1931. A. F. PAUL 1,801,973

STEP AND TRAP CONSTRUCTION FOR PASSENGER CARS Filed Nov. 8. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 avwentoz Patented Apr. 21, 1931 o q 1 391 973 UNTTED STATES PATENT! OFFICE ABRAM FRANK PAUL, OF LLANERCI'I, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 7 TO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA STEP AND TRAP consrnuorlon Fora PASSENGER cans Application filed November 8,1929. .Seria1 No. 405,795.

This invention relates toa combined step low level platforms or for tilting into trap and trap device for use in passenger cars formation; and has for its object the provision of a sim- Fig. 4 is a partial view similar to the conple and eflicient step and trap construction struction shown in Fig. 3 but showing the 5 in which the step or stairway structure is stairway in inter-locked position; i

used to form the trap by rotating the stair- Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion ofthe way about a given point so that in one posivestibule and stairway; and tion it forms the trap and makes a continuous Fig. 6'is a more or less diagrammatic showl tf f th ve tib l high lever plating of the car with the wiring and mechanism 10 forms or the stair steps are used for'low for remotely controlling the stairway and to level platforms. In the former position pastrap. sengers are enabled to step from the car floor Like numerals refer to similar parts into high level platforms which are approxithroughout the several views. mately level with the car floor and in the lat- It is the prime purpose of myinvention to ter passengers alight on or enter from low provlde a combination trap and stairway del l l tf vice by which passengers are protected Another object is the provision of a safety against accident during the moving f interlocking device by which th tairway trains, and, furtheryby which passengers may structure is locked in stairway position by n r directly from high level or low level a passenger stepping on the stairs, thus preplatforms. The construction is, moreover,

ti t ti f th h is hil a simple and safe and is easily controlled by passenger is going in or out of the train. an operator from a remote point. Moreover, A further object of my invention consists by a on of the construction of my devicefit in the provision of a gate or bar arrangedin 1s self-clcaning and has the advantage of the car vestibule in'such a manner as to prekeeping thesteps free from obstructions such vent passengers from stepping on the trap as Show or other foreign matter.

before the unit has been properly positioned Referring W o the drawings wherein I for high or l le l l tfo m iave shown a preferred form of construction Another advantage of my construction re by Which my invention may be carried out in sides in the arrangement by which the stairs 5! p a ti al manner, I provide a boxed housar kept fr fr w r for i n att ing for the stairway structure having side by reason of the position of the stairway steps p a es 20, 20, a back plate 21, stair steps 22, when in trap position. I 23, and 25provided with suitable risers 26 A still further object includes the provision l p r nentlysecured together to form a of means for remotely controlling said stain single un 0 t w y On the Outside Of 8 wet and tra h each ofthe side plates of the housing there ther objects will appear hereinafter andI' 1s provlded a fiatture or bracket 27 having attain these objects by the construction il-" Shafts 2 8 011 which the stairway or housing lustrated in the accompanying drawings in rotates in the supporting bracket 29. These hi h p brackets are fastened by suitable means as so Figure 1 is an end iew of a, stairway c011- bOltS 3O tO the car frame 31. The supporting struction attached to the car frame in stairr kets 29 are provided with extensions way forming position; for carrying the suspension springs 33.

Fig. 2 is a View showing th tairway ilhese'sprmgs are ad ustably held by adyuststructure in trap door position for letting lng means 34 so that the stairway housing 18 95 passengers in from, or off onto highrlevel supported to'rota-te freely for a predeterplatforms; mined weight. Immediately above the ro- Fig. 3 is a view looking in onto the stair l g Shafts 28 BXtBIISIOIIS bracket way from a low level platform and showing 29, are provided, each of these extensions havthe stairway in position ready for use with g n pe ing 36 for receiving the safety 10% lock pin 37 carried on the stairway bracket 27 in such a position that the weight of a passenger, or passengers, will lower the stairway structure and cause the pin 37 to engage in opening 36 thereby locking the stairway against rotation. It will be noted that electrical contacts 38 and 39 will be separated at this time thereby breaking the electrical circuit 40 and deenergizing the magnetic valve 41 thereby preventing operation of the motor 42, where this type of operating device is used. It will be noted, however, that as soon as the stairway is not occupied by passengers that the spring will tension the structure in operative position. In this position it is pos sible for an attendant to energize the magnet valve by merely closing one of the control switches 43, or 44, in the circuit. It is understood that by this action the motor will be put into operation and the stairway will be rotated into the desired position, that is, into stair position where it is desired to have passengers leave by low level platforms, or into trap position where it is desired to admit passengers from high level platforms or to discharge passengers to the same.

In order to prevent passengers from crowding onto the trap before a train reaches the station I provide a gate 4-5 which may be operated by any suitable means (not shown). The usual vestibule door 46 may be provided which is opened into the door slide 47 by known means (not shown). The stairway is rotated through link 48 which is connected with the operating device of selected type; whether this be an elcctrially con trolled motor, pneumatically operated. or mechanically operated is immatcrii-il for the purpose of this invention.

It will be seen from the above disclosure that my device is simple, sate and easily i stalled on modern railway cars; that it is readily controlled by a single attendant from a point remote without endangering passengers; and that it further provides a solution for high and low level platforms. Other ad vantages will manifest themselves to those versed in the art and the construction herein disclosed is "iven by way of example rather than in a limiting sense.

What I claim, therefore. as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A stairway housing comprising stair treads, end plates and a back plate. brackets supported on said end plates, cushioning springs, and means for suspending said stair construction on said cushioning springs.

2. A stairway housing comprising stair treads. end plates and a back plate, brackets supported on said end plates. cushioning springs, means for suspending said construction on said cushioning springs, and means for locking said stair construction in stair forming position.

3. A combined step and trap device for cars, comprising a stair housing having stair treads to form stairs for low level platforms, at back plate to cover said trap for high level platforms, means for rocking said stair housing to cover and uncover said trap, and means actuated by the weight of a passenger for locking said steps in stair position.

4. A combined. step and trap device for cars, comprising a stair housing having stair treads to form stairs for low level platforms, a back plate to cover said trap for high level ilattorms, means for rocking said stair housing to cover and uncover said trap, and means actuated by the weight of a passenger for locking said steps in stair position and a gate to guard said trap.

5. In the construction as described for use on vehicles, the combination comprising a stair housing having stair treads therein to form steps, means for rotatably supporting the housing, power means connected thereto for rotating the housing, electrical control means for controlling the operation of the power means including circuits and a switch in said circuits operable when a person is standing on the steps of the housing to open said circuits so that said control means is out of controlling relation wit-h the power means.

6. The combination with a vehicle, of a step assembly, means for rotatably supporting the step assembly on the vehicle and permitting vertical movement of the step assembly thereon, power means for rotating the step assembly, manual control means in cluding circuits for the power means and a switch in said circuit-s arranged to be opened upon the vertical movement of the step assembly under the weight of a person to prevent operation of the power means by the manual control means.

7 The combination with a vehicle, of a step assembly, means for rotatably supporting the step assembly on the vehicle and permitting vertical movement of the step assembly thereon, power means for rotating the step assembly, manually control means including circuits for the power means and a switch in said circuits arranged to be opened upon the vertical movement of the step assembly under the weight of a person to prevent operation of the power means by the manual. control means, and means for moving the step assembly in the opposite direction when there is no person thereon for closing said switch.

8. The combination with a movable step assembly, of means for rotatably supporting the step assembly, said means permitting a longitudinal movement of the step assembly. a power device for rotating the step assembly to either of two positions, one position permitt-ing the use of the step assembly as steps and the other position as a platform, means for controlling the power device to operate ill] the step assembly, and means controlled by the vertical movement of they step assembly under the weight of a person for preventing the operation of the power device by the means for controlling it. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set" my hand on this 10th day of May, A. D.

ABRAM FRANK PAUL. 

